Slate Valley Unified School District

Tonight - March 28, 2022 You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified School District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Castleton Elementary School Cafeteria. This meeting will be in person or virtually connect by going to https://meet.google.com/ibt-nfdy-psz or join by phone (US) +1 260-557-1907 PIN: 533 683 324# Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/17jpu Previous Meeting Minutes: https://5il.co/179ke Next Board Meeting: April 11, 2022 - 6:30 p.m. at Fair Haven Union High School

Please take a few minutes to check out the recording of our first Middle School Family Forum! https://bit.ly/3iC08Vd If you have not done so already, take a minute to complete this survey https://forms.gle/2Z5GHLFTysAkU1qx5 so we can address your questions and concerns about next year. Our next forum will be in-person at 5:30pm on April 28th at FHU. Thank you!

Please join us on Thursday, April 7th at 5:30 p.m. in the FHUHS Library or join virtually to discuss our Parent/Family/Community Engagement Policy E-1. This meeting will be an opportunity for parents/community members to provide feedback on the policy and discuss Slate Valley’s Continuous Improvement Planning. Policy E-1: https://5il.co/rao4 Meeting ID: https://meet.google.com/cee-mehp-crb Phone Number: (US) +1 414-909-5677 (PIN: 707156020)

Current 6th and 7th grade families: Just a reminder that the first of three middle school family forums is happening on tonight, Thursday, March 24th from 5:30-6:30pm. This event is virtual; please click this link http://meet.google.com/byy-tygx-jaf to hear more about our middle school teams, ask us questions and see a virtual tour of the middle school space!

Universal Preschool Registration is now open! Please call the school where your child will be attending to register.

Congratulations to Kristen Partesi and Jessica Sturtevant for being recognized at UVM’s 41st Vermont Outstanding Teachers’ Day! From the Event Program (https://5il.co/17iz0): Kristen Partesi Fair Haven Union High School Slate Valley Unified Union SD Over the past year, Kristen has taken on a pandemic and dominated in her art space. She has inspired students to paint murals in the building, worked with AP art students on a paint and tile project to beautify the front entrance, served as a senior advisor, planned a graduation, a senior trip and a prom. She has gone above and beyond for her kids this year and every year. Jessica Sturtevant Benson Village School Slate Valley Unified Union SD Jessica is a model of grit and resilience. Just three short years into her career, Jessica has accomplished more than many as they approach retirement. She has taught 1st through 4th grades in every possible combination imaginable, completed two years of her VMI Masters program, and never shied away from a committee position or volunteer role.

MS (6-8th) Track and MS Baseball - There will be a Parent/Athlete/Coach Meeting on Tuesday, March 22 at 6pm in the FHUHS CAFETERIA. If you have an athlete that will be participating this Spring - please attend.

Current 6th and 7th grade families: Just a reminder that the first of three middle school family forums is happening on Thursday, March 24th from 5:30-6:30pm. This event is virtual; please click this link http://meet.google.com/byy-tygx-jaf to hear more about our middle school teams, ask us questions and see a virtual tour of the middle school space!

***Update*** Thursday, March 17th As a reminder, there will be a Softball Meeting for grades 7-12 at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 17th in the FHUHS Cafeteria. If you plan to play softball this Spring, please attend this meeting with a parent/guardian.

Tonight - March 14, 2022 You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified School District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Fair Haven Union High School Library. This Meeting will be in person or virtually connect by going to https://meet.google.com/mgk-ptbz-drh or join by phone (US) +1 605-681-6441 PIN: 247 273 963# Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/1742d Previous Meeting Minutes: https://5il.co/15u75 Next Board Meeting: March 28, 2022 - 6:30 p.m. at Castleton Elementary School

The results of the budget recount are as follows: Yes: 853 No: 861

Good afternoon, Due to the close outcome of the SVUUSD budget vote (Yes: 852/No: 861), a recount has been requested to ensure the accuracy of the results. The recount will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 8th at Fellowship Bible Church. We will provide an update with the results of the recount when they become available.

The Slate Valley Universal Preschool Program will be conducting developmental screenings for children 0-5 years of age on Tuesday March 8th and Wednesday March 9th at Fair Haven Grade School. Screening involves activities that are both fun for young children and help us learn about a child's motor, cognitive, and language skills. Vision and hearing will also be screened. We encourage any child aged 0-5 years that resides in Benson, Castleton, Fair Haven, Hubbardton, Orwell and West Haven who has not previously been screened to be screened. If the Fair Haven Grade School dates are not convenient, we will also be screening at Benson Village School on 3/31. Please choose the date or site that works best with your schedule and give that site a call for an appointment.

Parenting Workshop Series - Change of Dates Please note that the dates have changed for this series. It will now run from March 21st through May 23rd. See the flyer for details. Sign-up forms (https://5il.co/16hdx) are currently being accepted!

Town Meeting Day Results: Benson School Director Rebeckah St. Peter: 1279 Castleton School Director Timothy Smith: 1331 Fair Haven School Director Curtis Hier: 595 Christopher Stanton: 866 Orwell School Director Glen Cousineau: 1250 Hubbardton School Director Christina Ryan: 1130 Treasurer Dawn Custer: 1097 Article 4: Shall the voters approve the following compensation to be paid to Slate Valley Unified Union School District Officers? A. School Directors - $1,200 per person per year B. School Board Chair - $1,500 per year C. Treasurer - $1,200 per year Yes: 1157 No: 534 Article 5: Shall the voters authorize the Slate Valley Unified Union School District to borrow money pending receipt of payments from the State Education Fund or Town Tax Funds by the issuance of its notes or orders payable not later than one year from date provided, however, that the Slate Valley Unified Union School District is authorized by Vermont Statutes to borrow sufficient funds to meet pending obligations? Yes: 1114 No: 563 Article 6: Shall the voters of the School District authorize a transfer from the general fund surplus balance in the amount of $820,000 to the capital improvements and repairs reserve fund? Yes: 1094 No: 604 Article 7: Shall the voters of the school district approve the school board to expend Twenty-Six Million Two Hundred Seventy Thousand Forty-Seven Dollars $26,270,047.00 which is the amount the school board has determined to be necessary for the ensuing fiscal year? It is estimated that this proposed budget, if approved, will result in education spending of $16,983.43 per equalized pupil. This projected spending per equalized pupil is 2.94% greater than spending for the current year. Yes: 852 No: 861

Good Morning, Today is Town Meeting Day in Vermont. Please remember to vote! For SVUUSD budget information, please visit the budget page of our website: https://www.slatevalleyunified.org/page/budget

The Slate Valley Universal Preschool Program will be conducting developmental screenings for children 0-5 years of age on Friday March 4th and Monday March 7th at Castleton Elementary School. Screening involves activities that are both fun for young children and help us learn about a child's motor, cognitive, and language skills. Vision and hearing will also be screened. We encourage any child aged 0-5 years that resides in Benson, Castleton, Fair Haven, Hubbardton, Orwell and West haven who has not previously been screened to be screened. If the Castleton Elementary School dates are not convenient, we will also be screening at Fair Haven Grade School on 3/8 and 3/9 as well as at Benson Village School on 3/31. Please choose the date or site that works best with your schedule and give that site a call for an appointment.

Reminder! The Slate Valley Unified Union School District Annual Meeting is tonight at 5:30 p.m. Please join us in the Fair Haven Union High School Band Room or virtually connect by going to https://meet.google.com/ixc-bfdi-ptv or by calling (US) +1 617-675-4444 PIN: 815 518 313 0854# For budget information, please visit the budget page of our website: https://www.slatevalleyunified.org/page/budget

Date and time change for the Quarter-final game at FHUHS: #3 FHUHS vs. #6 Mt Abraham - Varsity Girls Basketball Saturday, February 26, 2022 --- 2pm Tip-Off 12:00 -- Trainer on site 12:40 -- Mt Abe Shoot Around 1:00 -- FHUHS Shoot Around 1:15 -- Ticket Sales 1:30 -- Gym Doors Open 1:30 -- 15 Minute Warm up Begins 1:55 -- Announcement and Introductions 2:00 -- Tip-Off Please come support our Slater Ladies Basketball Team!

February 24, 2022 Dear Slate Valley Families and Staff, I hope you all are having a wonderful break. As you know, last week I communicated that we will be moving to a mask-optional system on March 7th. For some, the lifting of pandemic restrictions has been an anxious process depending on their personal situation. As we move into a state of personal responsibility I ask that we respect the choices of others. Some staff, students and community members will continue to choose to wear masks, and that is their choice. As of March 1st, all other restrictions that still may be in place in some schools should be coming to an end. Schools need to develop protocols for students eating in the cafeteria/ recess, we are allowing time for this to take place. However, all are expected to operate as close to a pre-pandemic normal as possible by the 1st. Again, I ask for everyone’s patience with this and if you have a question, please ask. Additionally, as a reminder the mask mandate for transportation is still in effect. Due to federal regulations (https://bit.ly/3HgXUnW), masks will still be required on school buses. We still have many COVID testing supplies. If you need any please reach out to the school. To effectively reduce your chances of contracting COVID consider the following: · Make sure you/your child is washing their hands (https://bit.ly/3IjWpa6). · Keep your child home if they are sick. · Call your primary care provider if you or your child has symptoms of COVID-19 (https://bit.ly/352Uk3T). Thank you for your patience and continued support. Brooke Olsen-Farrell, Superintendent